Dressing aid

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a dressing aid for use on the hand of a user. The dressing aid includes a first segment, a second segment contiguous with the first segment and therewith defining a cavity and an opening thereto, and a collar segment about the opening.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to dressing aids and moreparticularly to an improved dressing aid.

BACKGROUND

Getting dressed without discomfort, pain or difficulty is something mostpeople take for granted. Some people, however, are not so fortunate. Asa result of injuries, physical (e.g., reduced range of motion) and/orcognitive and/or behavioural maladies or afflictions, many people cannotdress themselves or, at least, cannot do so with the usual quicknessand/or ease (even with assistance). Devices exist to help with zippers,buttons and other clothing-related fasteners; however, there exists nosuitable device to facilitate putting arms into and through sleeves orother openings in clothing that may readily be used by persons in needof such aid.

Facilitating dressing is important to allow persons to do so withoutwasted time, added frustration and the accompanying indignity. Evenspeeding up the dressing process is of value as various persons are moresusceptible to escalations of their conditions (e.g., further physicalimpairment due to additional injuries; anxiety; frustration andmanifestations such as tantrums or the like for others with differentissues).

Given the conditions and needs of many affected users, complex devicesare of little use in solving the issues discussed above. Further, it isadvantageous not just for the use of a device to be easy for the user;but, also, positioning of the device for use should. As such, thereexists a need for an improved dressing aid to alleviate or eliminate atleast some of the problems noted above.

DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a dressing aid;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the dressing aid of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of a dressing aid, positionedin use.

BRIEF SUMMARY

There is disclosed herein a dressing aid for use on the hand of a user.The dressing aid includes a first segment, a second segmentsubstantially contiguous with the first segment and therewithcollectively defining a cavity, an opening to the cavity, and a collarsegment about the opening.

In some embodiments, the collar segment is flexibly elastic.

In some embodiments, the first segment has an edge and the secondsegment has an edge, the edges meet at a first end of a border anddefining an angle θ₁ therebetween.

In some embodiments, θ₁ has a magnitude between 110 and 135 degrees.

In some embodiments, the first segment has a second edge and the secondsegment has a second edge, and the second edges meet at a second end ofthe border, and define an angle θ₂ therebetween.

In some embodiments, θ₂ has a magnitude between 110 and 135 degrees.

In some embodiments, the first segment has a first length and the secondsegment has a second length and wherein the magnitude of the firstlength is fifty percent greater than the magnitude of the second length.

In some embodiments, a restraint is formed with the second segment.

In some embodiments, the first and second segment comprise the samematerial.

DESCRIPTION

There is disclosed herein a dressing aid 100 for use on the hand 140 ofa user 142 (see FIG. 3). The dressing aid 100 includes a first segment104, a second segment 106 that is substantially contiguous with thefirst segment 104 (for portions other than the cavity 110), collectivelytherewith defines the cavity 110 and an opening 112 thereto. A collarsegment 108 is provided about the opening 112.

The collar segment 108 may be flexibly elastic and, in some embodiments,formed with the second segment 106. The collar segment 108 may be adifferent material than the second segment 106, or a similar material.For example, an 80/20 nylon/spandex blend may be used for the segments104, 106 and elastic nylon for the collar segment 108.

In some embodiments, the first segment 104 has an edge 104 a and thesecond segment 106 has an edge 106 a, the edges 104 a, 106 a, meet at afirst end A₁ of a border A and define an angle θ₁ between the edges 104a, 106 a. In some embodiments, θ₁ has a magnitude between 110 and 135degrees.

The first segment 104 also has a second edge 104 b and the secondsegment 106 has a second edge 106 b, the second edges 104 b, 106 b meetat a second end of the border, and define an angle θ2 therebetween. Insome embodiments, θ₂ has a magnitude between 110 and 135 degrees. Thefirst 104 and second 106 segments may be each of substantially the sameor different surface areas, depending on needs of the particularembodiment.

In some embodiments, the first segment 104 has a first length L1 and thesecond segment 106 has a second length L2. The magnitude of the firstlength L may, in some embodiments, be about fifty percent greater thanthe magnitude of the second length L2. The relationship between thefirst L1 and second lengths L2 may vary depending on the appendage forwhich the particular embodiment is designed (e.g., hand or foot) and thecondition, size and orientation of such appendage.

In some embodiments, the first 104 and second 106 segments comprise thesame material.

The disclosed subject matter comprises generally a protective hand cover100 allowing for safe dressing of a person 142. This is applicable inrespect of persons dressing themselves or being assisted by others. Theaid 100 is aimed at assisting persons with varying and in some casessevere impairment of range of motion or motion control.

This facilitates quicker dressing which is preferred for various reasonsincluding lowered risk of aggravating or incurring injuries, and toavoid agitating or rendering anxious persons prone to the same infrustrating situations (e.g., persons with autism or other disorders).

The aid 100 also keeps fingers away from possible injuries such asjamming, deflecting or spraining as a result of imprecise movements andplacements of the hand during dressing. These are advantages for theperson being dressed and in some cases those assisting such persons.

In use, the aid 100 allows the hand 140 of a user 142 to pass throughany type of sleeve or opening more quickly and safely than would his/herunaided hand. This cuts down on dressing time (e.g., in half or less)and reduces stresses associated with such actions.

The collective body of the aid 100 formed by the segments 104, 106 maygenerally be tube shaped (see FIG. 2) and can be, for example andwithout limitation, 4, 6 or 8 inches in length from the collar segment108 to the tip 102 of the first segment 104. Factors affecting thissizing may include at least the size of hand or appendage being covered.

The segments 104, 106 and 108 may be sewn together, with the collarsegment 108 sized and otherwise adapted to draw tight at the wrist of auser to create a smooth compact surface to allow the hand of the user topass through the sleeve/opening without any substantial hindrance. Insome embodiments, the segments may be formed from a single piece ofmaterial. In non-unitary embodiments, it is preferable to minimizeinteractions of seams with sleeves or user appendages.

In use, the aid 100 would be placed on the hand by the user and/or aperson helping him/her, and removed after the sleeve/opening has beenpassed through.

Methods of using the aid 100 include stretching the collar segment toenlarge the opening; inserting the hand of a user through the opening112 and into the cavity 110 until the end of the hand distal to theopening substantially abuts the first end of the first segment;releasing tension on the collar segment to provide for slightcompression upon the hand 140 or wrist of the user 142. This may beperformed by the user 142, on their behalf or with help.

While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosedherein have been described above, it should be understood that they havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, thebreadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any ofthe above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the claims and their equivalents issuing from thisdisclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are providedin described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of suchissued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all ofthe above advantages.

It will be understood that the principal features of this disclosure canbe employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerousequivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Suchequivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure andare covered by the claims.

Additionally, the section headings herein are provided as organizationalcues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s)set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specificallyand by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Field” suchclaims should not be limited by the language under this heading todescribe the so-called technical field. Further, a description oftechnology in the “Background” section is not to be construed as anadmission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in thisdisclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered a characterizationof the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, anyreference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should notbe used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in thisdisclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to thelimitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, andsuch claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents,that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claimsshall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, butshould not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term“comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” butit is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,”and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims isused to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer toalternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, althoughthe disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternativesand “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used toindicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for thedevice, the method being employed to determine the value, or thevariation that exists among the study subjects.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (andany form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having”(and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and anyform of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing”(and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) areinclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, un-recitedelements or method steps.

All of the devices, systems and/or methods disclosed and claimed hereincan be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of thisdisclosure have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, itwill be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may beapplied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in thesequence of steps of the method described herein without departing fromthe concept, spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such similarsubstitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art aredeemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the disclosure asdefined by the appended claims

1. A dressing aid for use on the hand of a user, the dressing aid comprising: a. a first segment; b. a second segment substantially contiguous with at least a portion of the first segment and collectively therewith defining a cavity and an opening thereto; and, c. a collar segment about the opening.
 2. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein the collar segment is flexibly elastic.
 3. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first second has an edge and the second segment has an edge, the edges meet at a first end of a border and defining an angle θ₁ therebetween.
 4. A dressing aid according to claim 3, wherein θ₁ has a magnitude between 110 and 135 degrees.
 5. A dressing aid according to claim 3, wherein the first segment has a second edge and the second segment has a second edge, the second edges meet at a second end of the border, and define an angle θ₂ therebetween.
 6. A dressing aid according to claim 5, wherein θ₂ has a magnitude between 110 and 135 degrees.
 7. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first segment has a first length and the second segment has a second length and wherein the magnitude of the first length is fifty percent greater than the magnitude of the second length
 8. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein the collar segment is formed with the second segment.
 9. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first and second segment comprise the same material.
 10. A dressing aid according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first segment and the second segment each comprise at least two sub-segments.
 11. A method of using a dressing aid comprising the steps of: a. stretching a collar segment of the aid to enlarge an opening defined thereby; b. inserting the hand of a user through the opening and into the cavity within the aid until an end of the hand distal to the opening substantially abuts a first end of the first segment distal to the collar segment; c. releasing tension on the collar segment to provide for slight compression upon the hand or wrist of the user.
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method is performed on behalf of the user. 